It’s no secret that medical bills can quickly pile up and become a significant source of debt to the average person. This can prove to be true even for seemingly minor services, such as an ambulance ride.
Fortunately, there are reliable ways to negotiate your medical bills.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about negotiating hospital bills.
1. Research Other Facilities
A bit of research could potentially save you thousands.
If another hospital is providing the same treatment that you underwent for substantially less, it’s important to bring this information up when negotiating your bill.
Put simply, hospitals would rather you pay for your treatment as opposed to sending your bill to collections. Knowing that a hospital is offering a cheaper alternative for the same care is solid leverage you can use.
In the event that you ever do have a bill sent to collections, though, you can learn how to fight back against a debt collection lawsuit here.
2. Pay More Upfront
The more money you’re able to put toward your bill after your treatment, the more lenient the facility will be. This is especially true if you pay in cash, which saves a substantial amount of time on paperwork.
Your billing manager may even waive part of your fee if you can pay enough money upfront, which is something to keep in mind no matter how expensive your treatment was.
3. Negotiate Your Repayment Term
Can’t get out of paying your bill? For many people, that’s the stark reality of medical treatment.
If you haven’t had any luck in negotiating your medical treatment, try asking for flexibility on your repayment plan.
As previously mentioned, medical facilities want their money, so they’re always willing to work with you. In certain circumstances, you may even be able to double your repayment term.
This will give you plenty of time to generate extra income, secure financing, etc.
4. Look For Billing Errors
It’s not impossible for you to get charged for a treatment you never had. It’s also not impossible for you to get charged for the more expensive version of a treatment you had.
When looking over your bill, make note of the medical codes next to the services you were charged for. From here, contact your doctor or billing manager to learn where you can find (or be provided with) a correct definition for each code.
If the codes don’t match up with the treatment you underwent, you won’t be liable to pay for it. From here, you can ask for an updated bill that reflects the money you actually owe.
Negotiating Hospital Bills Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about negotiating hospital bills in mind, you’ll be well on your way to cutting down the money you owe.
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